Ezra Stewart stands with other men on top of the rotary snow plow clearing the railroad tracks on its way into Breckenridge, Colorado, in April 1899, during the Big Snow event of 1898-1899. View of Bald Mountain in the background.

The rotary snow plow and several train engines are stopped in a deep drift of snow covering the railroad tracks on Barney Ford Hill, east of Breckenridge, Colorado, in April 1899. A well-dressed man stands on a rock overlooking the tracks, while shovelers dig out debris buried under snow that could damage the rotary's blades. View of snowy Tenmile Range in the background.

Rotary snow plow leaving Breckenridge, Colorado, during the Big Snow event of 1898-1899. Between four and six helper train engines were required to push the rotary because it was not self-propelled.

People on or above the rotary snow plow stopped in one of the cuts through the deep snow drifts at Boreas Pass, east of Breckenridge, Colorado. Standing on the tracks below, a man holds a shovel high against the exposed side walls to show the snow depth. With him is another man and a boy with two dogs. Circa April 1899.

Plumes of smoke rise from the train engines pushing the rotary snow plow through deep snow covering the railroad tracks on its way to Boreas Pass, east of Breckenridge, Colorado. Circa April 1899.

A snow plow moves snow to the side of a road in Aspen, Colorado. In the background is a two-story wood frame house. Handwritten on the reverse: "Aspen (?)". Stamped "RAYS LaCrosse, Wis. Nationally Known Guaranteed Prints" and "A24."

Men watch the rotary snow plow clear deep drifts of snow off the railroad tracks near Breckenridge, Colorado. Probably during the Big Snow event of 1898-1899.